Cheryl Shantz performs the Gigue from French Suite No. 5 in G Major by Johann Sebastian Bach. The Gigue is a lively Baroque dance that stemmed from the British jig. It was brought to France in the middle of the 17th century and is played at the end of a suite. The time signature is usually in 3/8 or, in a compounded form, 6/8, 6/4, 9/8 or 12/16. Like so much of Bach's work, this particular Gigue from the French Suite No. 5 has a contrapuntal structure. This simply means note against note. In other words, each voice is an independent part and not thought of as an accompaniment to a melody, as was the musical fashion with plainsong in earlier times. The French Suites are a set of six suites for harpsichord or clavichord written by J. S. Bach between 1722 and 1725. They are called "French" to show the difference from the set of English Suites that Bach also wrote. Each of the French Suites has dance movements that were popular in the late Renaissance and Baroque eras such as Allemande, Courante, Sarabande, Gavotte, Bourée, Loure, and Gigue. The Life of Johann Sebastian Bach J.S. Bach was born in Eisenach, Germany on March 21, 1685. In 1695 he moved to Ohrdruf and lived with his brother, Johann Christoph, who first taught Johann Sebastian the Organ. J. S. Bach also studied at schools in Eisenach, Ohrdruf, and Lüneburg. Bach lived in northern Germany when music was an integral part of the grandeur of courts, of the church, and of peoples daily enjoyment. He held positions consecutively as choirboy, orchestral violinist of a prince, organist of town churches, and head court musician. In 1723, Bach was appointed Cantor (church choir leader) at the St. Thomas Church and School, and Director of Music for Leipzig, positions which he retained for the last thirty years of his life. He was forever performing, teaching, training choirs, and composing. As a performer, Bach was the best in his day as clavichordist, harpsichordist, and organist. He had a pleasant temperament, was a tireless student of his art form always learning from other musicians, and at the heart of his character, he was very spiritual. His mastery of the fugue can be seen in his two books of Preludes and Fugues titled "The Well-Tempered Clavier" finished in 1722 and 1744 consecutively. It is considered to be the most authoritative work that has greatly influenced classical Western music. Bach's work ends a school of the later contrapuntal style in which the fugue is the most definite expression, and to which the Chorale was an element of inspiration. Bach's most celebrated compositions were his sacred cantatas, and the St. John and St. Matthew Passions, as well as the Mass in B Minor. In all likelihood, the greatness of Bach's works derived from his selflessness and spiritual motivation rather than from self-glorification and recognition. Married twice, Bach was the father of twenty children. Anna Magdalena was his second wife. She and Bach were happily married and music was a common bond. Bach dedicated many of his compositions to her, most notably the two Notenbüchlein für Anna Magdalena Bach. She helped transcribe Bach's music. Often Anna Magdalena would arrange musical evenings to which she invited friends who would come to hear the whole family play and sing. The Bach household became a musical centre in Leipzig. Near the end of his life, Bach's eyesight was failing and during his last months, he went totally blind. On July 28, 1750, he died at 65 years of age in Leipzig.